LOS ANGELES — What seemed inevitable throughout his All-America junior season — and perhaps even before it — was made official Wednesday morning: Taylor Rapp, Washington’s hard-hitting safety and the linchpin of the Huskies’ vaunted secondary, announced that he will bypass his senior season and enter the 2019 NFL Draft.

In a lengthy message posted from his Twitter account, Rapp wrote, in part, “Ever since I was a child, I dreamed of playing in the National Football League. Now, with this incredible opportunity in front of me, I feel it is in my best interest to seize it.”

If Rapp’s value and versatility were not already apparent throughout his decorated career, Tuesday’s Rose Bowl loss to Ohio State reinforced just how important he was to Washington’s defense. He didn’t play, watching from the sideline with a hip injury apparently suffered in the Pac-12 title game.

A UW spokesperson said in the locker room that Rapp was not speaking to...